Acharya Prashant begins by expressing gratitude to the audience on the occasion of Mahashivratri, noting that it is a poignant and heart-touching moment for him to see people gathered from far and wide. He explains that the true meaning of 'Shivattva' (the quality of Shiva) is when a person, regardless of their physical, material, or worldly obstacles, chooses to act in accordance with consciousness. The real Mahashivratri, he states, is not just a specific day but the very act of overcoming hurdles to choose consciousness. He says the audience's presence itself is the real Mahashivratri, as they have overcome their own obstacles to be there, just as he has overcome his. The speaker then introduces the 'Nirvana Shatkam', also known as 'Atma Shatkam', as the ultimate formula for reaching the Self. He emphasizes that the feeling of overcoming challenges is the root of Shivattva. The first verse of this text, "Mano Buddhyahankara Chitta Ninaham..." is a process of negation, denying identification with the mind, intellect, ego, and the mental faculty of consciousness (chitta). This does not mean one should not use these faculties, but that they should not be the master. The ego's natural tendencies, its surrounding thoughts (mind), its servant (intellect), and its contents (chitta) are all interconnected and should not rule one's life. Acharya Prashant explains that after negating all that is not the Self, a purity remains, and one should have love for that purity. This love is the essence of Shivattva. He posits that love for the Self is the primary and sole duty. When this fundamental duty is fulfilled, all other responsibilities are automatically taken care of. He uses the analogy of a journey: if the destination is wrong, it doesn't matter how well you drive. Similarly, if the primary choice in life is incorrect, all efforts are in vain. The first principle must be love for becoming better, for the Self. He further illustrates this with the example of buying a car. The destination should determine the choice of the car (the model), but often people get fascinated by the shiny model and forget their destination. The model, a means, becomes the end, leading one away from the true goal. Therefore, the senses and their objects should not be given ultimate importance. The destination, which is the Self or Shiva, must be the priority. This, he concludes, is the essence of spirituality, whether called Shivattva, Krishnattva, or Ramattva. It is the philosophy of Vedanta, which is the philosophy of love.